Is Your Idea Good Enough?

Process, Strategy

In today’s publishing world, “good enough” ideas don’t sell. Your book idea has to be GREAT… So great that it breaks through the noise to entertain, teach, and even change lives. (And yes, sell more books.) Below is my experiment with...

8 Simple Truths for Your Book

Process

No matter what your goals for your next book, these essential truths will help guide you: 1. A book needs a beginning, middle, and end. Your audience wants to sense where your book is going. 2. Controversial is good (but you have to have a lot to back it up). 3. The...

The Art of the Book Pitch: Video Advice from Agent/Blogger Nathan Bransford

Process

There’s a mystique and a whole circuit of experts and writers on the topic of pitching book ideas to agents and editors. The wonderful literary agent and blogger Nathan Bransford cuts to the chase in this short video I was able to grab when we were both speaking...

Will self-publishing spoil your mainstream publishing dream?

Marketing and Platform, Process, Strategy

This is a common question I get asked all the time. When I saw it posted on a LinkedIn discussion board, I posted my response, which I thought I’d share with you here. The short of it is, no. Self-publishing won’t spoil your mainstream publishing dream....

Become a Fierce Leader: Breaking the Trance of “Best Practices”

Marketing and Platform, Process, Strategy

We’re celebrating the official publication of Susan Scott’s new book Fierce Leadership today–#86 at Amazon as of this moment! This is Susan’s long-awaited follow-up to her bestselling book on Fierce Conversations. Filled with stories,...

How Do You Get a First Client?

Marketing and Platform, Process

So many of my clients–whether they are fiction and memoir writers needing to build their audience, career relaunchers, or new solopreneurs–find themselves stuck in planning mode. They hit a wall when it comes to getting their first “client”...